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CHILDREN’S SHORT DRAMA AND DOCUMENTARY OPPORTUNITIES 2025

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ABOUT

BBC ALBA is delighted to be once again partnering with the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) on a prestigious kids’ short drama and documentary exchange. Successful companies will each make a single 15-minute drama and/or documentary which will be shared and broadcast across Europe.

This is a unique creative opportunity for writers, directors and producers. The scheme offers mentoring from leading industry figures as well as support and feedback from other participating filmmakers. Films produced as part of this major international showcase regularly go on to win awards around the world.

DRAMA

Overview

  • Theme: “Belonging”
  • Duration: 14’45”
  • Audience: Ages 8-12
  • Casting: Gaelic-speaking child actors at the heart of the story.
  • Genre: We are open to all genres that can appeal to a young audience, and which are age-appropriate.
  • Style: Cinematic and shot and edited to enable versioning into other languages.

Timeline

  • Group script meeting – early May 2025
  • Production window – July/August 2025 (ie during the school holidays)
  • Delivery to EBU/BBC ALBA – end of October 2025
  • Screening meeting – early December 2025
  • TX on BBC ALBA – Christmas 2025

Funding

  • The successful drama proposal will have a funding contribution from MG ALBA of up to £80,000

DOCUMENTARY

Overview

  • Theme: “I Can Do It!”
  • Duration: 14’45”
  • Audience: Ages 8-12
  • Casting: A Gaelic-speaking child (no older than 12) should be at the heart of the story and should tell the story of a personal challenge in their own words with minimal contributions from grown-ups.
  • Style: Cinematic, observational, and shot and edited to allow for versioning into other languages.

Timeline

  • Group production meeting online – March 2025
  • Production window – July/August 2025 (ie school holidays)
  • Group rough-cut meeting – September 2025
  • Delivery to EBU/BBC ALBA – end of October 2025
  • Screening meeting – early December 2025
  • TX on BBC ALBA – Christmas 2025

Funding

  • The successful documentary proposal will have a funding contribution from MG ALBA of £16,000

OTHER INFORMATION

  • The EBU has its own Executive Producers on both the drama and documentary who will be part of the initial selection process and who will work closely with the successful production teams.
  • The EBU requires world-wide rights and clearance for 10 years and other rights that make these non-standard deals.
  • Following TX the producer will be expected to enter their film(s) for competition on the international festival circuit (minimum ten submissions)
  • Examples of films from previous years are available.
  • In addition to MG ALBA’s funding we expect that the successful company or companies will make funding applications to Screen Scotland and for UK Children’s TV Programme tax credits.

Screen Scotland: https://www.screen.scot/funding-and-support/funding

Tax reliefs (via BFI tax credits certification): https://www.bfi.org.uk/apply-british-certification-expenditure-credits/cultural-test-childrens-television-programmes

SUBMISSION PROCESS

  • For the drama call-out please submit at least two story ideas as part of your proposal. These should be 2 pages maximum each and should be outlines only ie not full scripts.
  • Whilst we encourage new participants, successful drama writers from previous years can apply.
  • For the documentary call-out please submit at least two story/subject ideas as part of your proposal. These should include short casting reels of the proposed subjects shot on a smart phone.
  • We will consider subjects from last year’s documentary submission round so long as they will be no older than 12 years-old at the time of filming.
  • For both drama and documentary please include a summary of production experience and an indication of key production talent.
  • Please note that in addition to the onscreen cast/subjects, writers and directors attached to the proposal are also required to be Gaelic-speakers.
  • Although we ask that submissions are routed through companies, we understand that in the case of the drama call-out not all writers will have connections in the production sector – in which case we will seek to build relationships. Interested writers should contact Bill Macleod at the email address below in advance of the submission deadline.
  • Companies may pitch for either drama or documentary schemes – or for both.
  • Deadline for submission – 31.01.25 @ 1700
  • Commissioning decision – 21.02.25
  • Submissions should be sent to: bbcalbacommissioning@bbc.co.uk
  • If you have any questions please contact Bill Macleod at macleod@mgalba.com